The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1887-10-20
American Camels.

DALLAS, Ten, September 20.-ln
order.that the Texas State Fair and Dal-
las Exposition may be complete in every
particular the association has concluded
to bring from the West number Of
Texas camels, which they will place
among the products of Texas. 1t is not
generally known that there are camels,
both wild and domestic, in Texas, but it
is nevertheless fact. Texas is a great
State, and has little Of everything.
A Ne,cs reporter yesterday called upon
Major John Henry Brown in quest of
information in regard to the history of
Texas camels. Major Brown says that
they were brought to Texas by the Fed
eral Government in 1851 for the purpose
of testing The feasibility Of using them
in crossing the great American desert
and the dry region between here and
California. Several Arabian canvassers
came along with the camels for the pur-
pose of instructing the Americans in
their art OF handling the animals. These
Arabs remained in the employ of the
Government for the space of two years,
and when they left it was believed that
the camels were success as q means of
travelling in the dry region, and it was
also believed the animals would retain
their vigor and health of their native
country. The Government then pro-
ceeded to breed them at Camp Verde,
military post in Kerr County, and they
multiplied and replenished with great
rapidity. When the war came on the
camels, of course, fell into the hands of
the Southern Confederacy, which had
control of them until the close of the
struggle, at which time Major Brown
says there were seventy six camels at
Camp Verde, ranging in age from one
year upward. But all the camels were
not concentrated at Camp Verde. They
had scattered during the war, and some
of them were in use in Arizona, while
others had wandered from the settle
ments and gone wild. Very little atten.
ton was given to the camels or to com.
munication by means of them with
California during the war, and by the
time the Federal Government got Texas
reconstructed and ready to resume the
caravan business across the plains the
railroads we're solving the problem for
which the camels we're being bred, and
the ships of the desert were heard of no
more as q factor in the commerce of
America.
The propriety Of running the camels at
Camp Verde into Mexico was discussed
by some Of the Texas who sought refuge
in that Republic at the close of the war,
but the matter ended in discussion.
Major Brown says he had not kept run
of the camcls in late years, but he is GER
tain that there are still quite number
of them, both wild and tame.
The move 10 exhibit some of them at
the fair meets with his hearty endorse
ment. Africa and Asia could get up
pretty good camel shows, but with these
exceptions Texas is the only country
that can trot out drove of these long,
between drinks animals.
The reporter asked Major Brown in
regard to tradition of the importation
OF some camels to this State by individu-
als, but he had no definite recollection
concerning the same. lie had vague
idea that somebody brought lot of
camels to the coast prior to the time the
Government importation was made, but
could not say what was the result of the
enterprise or whether any of the descen-
dants of the animals were living.-Ffom
the Galyeston Ne,cs.